diff --git a/include/libvirt/virterror.h b/include/libvirt/virterror.h
index 91ba297843..3e7c7a02c7 100644
--- a/include/libvirt/virterror.h
+++ b/include/libvirt/virterror.h
@@ -320,6 +320,7 @@ typedef enum {
     VIR_ERR_AGENT_UNSYNCED = 97,        /* guest agent replies with wrong id
                                            to guest-sync command (DEPRECATED)*/
     VIR_ERR_LIBSSH = 98,                /* error in libssh transport driver */
+    VIR_ERR_DEVICE_MISSING = 99,        /* fail to find the desired device */
 } virErrorNumber;
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/util/virerror.c b/src/util/virerror.c
index 562c3bc61d..c000b00436 100644
--- a/src/util/virerror.c
+++ b/src/util/virerror.c
@@ -1453,6 +1453,12 @@ virErrorMsg(virErrorNumber error, const char *info)
             else
                 errmsg = _("libssh transport error: %s");
             break;
+        case VIR_ERR_DEVICE_MISSING:
+            if (info == NULL)
+                errmsg = _("device not found");
+            else
+                errmsg = _("device not found: %s");
+            break;
     }
     return errmsg;
 }